Fall Conference 2017

The 2017 MassCUE/M.A.S.S Fall Conference has come to a successful close, and we thank you for participating and making it such a great success. We hope you were energized and gained valuable information that you can take back and implement in your various school districts.

Feedback is always greatly appreciated as we plan for future events. For workshops/sessions you attended, please go the Attendee Hub App, find the workshop and give it a star rating (with 5 being the highest). This will help in selecting our presentations for next year. For specific session presentations, please contact the presenter directly. Contact information may be found in the Attendee Hub App for each workshop. Vendor listings and contact information may also be found in the Attendee Hub App in ‘Exhibitors’.

If you have specific comments and/or suggestions about the conference you would like us to follow up on, please send them tomasscue@masscue.org[1]

The Keynote andCUEBytepresentations are now available! Visit the Keynote and CUEByte tabs below to view.

×[2]Quick Tip: Find all Fall Conference 2017 information from the labeled navigation tabs below. Select a link to open the tab to view.

2017 MassCUE/M.A.S.S. Fall Technology Conference

October 25th-26th, 2017

Thank you for attending!

Photo Gallery

Keynote Speaker

Wednesday, October 25, 2017

Keynote

Dr. Ruha Benjamin, Princeton University

Ruha Benjamin is a professor of African American studies at Princeton University and author of People’s Science: Bodies and Rights on the Stem Cell Frontier (Stanford University Press). She has studied the social dimensions of science, technology, and medicine for over fifteen years and speaks widely on issues of innovation, equity, health, and justice in the U.S. and globally.

CUEByte Speakers

Thursday, October 26, 2017

CUEByte Speakers

Sachi Badola

Sachi is a 7th grade student within the Chelmsford Public Schools. She is a multitalented honors student with a passion for STEM, music, and drama. Sachi has worked with Dr. Matthew Beyranevand to create math music videos to promote girls’ interest in mathematics and growth mindset.

Steve Dembo

A pioneer in the field of educational social networking, Steve Dembo was among the first to realize the power of blogging, podcasting, Twitter, and other Web 2.0 technologies in connecting educators and creating professional learning communities. Steve Dembo served for ten years as Discovery Education’s Director of Learning Communities and led their Innovation and Strategy team. He is the co-author of the book Untangling the Web: 20 Tools to Power Up Your Teaching. The National School Board Association named him one of 2010’s “Twenty to Watch,” a list honoring individuals finding innovative ways to use technology to increase classroom learning. In 2013 he began serving the Skokie/Morton Grove District 69 as a member of the School Board. Dembo is a course designer and adjunct professor for Wilkes University where he serves as class instructor for the Internet Tools for Teaching course within the Instructional Media degree program.

Mary Skipper

Mary Skipper is in her third year as Superintendent of the Somerville Public Schools. She joined the district in July of 2015 following an outstanding career at Boston Public Schools, and has quickly made her mark in Somerville as an innovative and visionary thinker, a passionate advocate for all youth, and a strategic systems builder whose approach includes leveraging community resources to support students.

Before coming to Somerville, Superintendent Skipper was Network Superintendent of High Schools for BPS. Among her most notable accomplishments while at BPS, Superintendent Skipper helped launch TechBoston Academy (TBA) as the founding Headmaster in 2002. During her tenure as TBA Headmaster, the Academy grew from a 9-12 high school serving 75 students, to a 6-12 school with a staff of more than 100 serving a diverse student population of more than 1,000, 30% of which were English Language Learners and 25% of which were Special Education students. President Obama visited TBA in March 2011 to recognize TBA’s achievement.

Superintendent Skipper holds a Bachelor’s in English and Latin from Tufts University. She earned a Master’s in Education Policy from Harvard and a Master’s in Urban Education Leadership from Columbia Teachers College. She is currently working toward her Doctorate in Urban Education Leadership from Columbia Teachers College.

Featured Speakers

Steve Dembo

A pioneer in the field of educational social networking, Steve Dembo was among the first to realize the power of blogging, podcasting, Twitter, and other Web 2.0 technologies in connecting educators and creating professional learning communities. Steve Dembo served for ten years as Discovery Education’s Director of Learning Communities and led their Innovation and Strategy team. He is the co-author of the book Untangling the Web: 20 Tools to Power Up Your Teaching. The National School Board Association named him one of 2010’s “Twenty to Watch,” a list honoring individuals finding innovative ways to use technology to increase classroom learning. In 2013 he began serving the Skokie/Morton Grove District 69 as a member of the School Board. Dembo is a course designer and adjunct professor for Wilkes University where he serves as class instructor for the Internet Tools for Teaching course within the Instructional Media degree program.

Kerry Gallagher

Kerry Gallagher is a Digital Learning Specialist at St. John’s Prep in Danvers, Massachusetts. She is also the Director of K-12 Education for ConnectSafey.org and an EdSurge Columnist. Kerry is a PBS Digital Innovator, ASCD Emerging Leader, MassCUE Pathfinder, and TEDx speaker. Find her award-winning blog at www.KerryHawk02.com[16] and find her on Twitter at @KerryHawk02[17].

Martin R. Geoghegan

Martin R. Geoghegan is the Principal of the John T. Nichols, Jr. Middle School in Middleborough, Massachusetts. Since Marty started at the Nichols, it has gone from little technology to a 1-to-1 Chromebook environment, where Google Suite and Classroom are helping his students see greater success. He was a high school and middle school English teacher before he made his way into administration. He is currently the President of the Massachusetts ASCD Board of Directors and the Middle Level Chair on the MSSAA Board. He founded and moderates the #MSSAAchat on the second Tuesday of each month for all educators. Marty was a MassCUE Pathfinder Award winner for 2016.

Brian McCann

Brian McCann is the principal of Joseph Case High School in Swansea, Mass., from which he graduate in 1980. He has transformed from a tech-philistine five years ago to a Google Certified Educator, digital principal, and ubiquitous Tweeter in four short years. He focuses his digital strengths on school branding and building relationships at his school. Brian is the former president of the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA), and serves on many MIAA and MSSAA committees. He has been featured at the MSSAA Summer Institute, Aspiring Leaders Conference, NEASC’s Showcase of Model Schools, and recently presented for his first time at ISTE17 and the new National Principals Conference. Brian was Massachusetts 2011 High School Principal of the Year.

Andy Plemmons

Andy Plemmons is the school library media specialist at David C. Barrow Elementary in Athens, GA and a Google Certified Innovator. Some of his honors include the 2016 Library Journal Movers and Shakers, Georgia Exemplary Elementary Library Media Program, finalist for School Library Journal School Librarian of the Year, and the 2015 National School Board Association 20 to Watch. You can follow Andy’s work on Twitter @plemmonsa[18] or on his blog Expect the Miraculous[19], which was nominated for an Edublogs Award.

Presenters Directory

View the #MassCUE17 full schedule of sessions and presenters here.[20]

MassCUE17 on Twitter

Join Us Online

Session Presenters

35th Anniversary

MassCUE’s 35th Anniversary Year

The idea for Massachusetts Association of Computer-Using Educators (MassCUE) began to germinate in 1982 with a few like-minded individuals. The group, led by Len Huber, saw the need for a state organization to try to pull together all computer-using educators to share their newfound joys and troubles.*

The newly formed organization started as a private foundation for the purpose of “creating, sharing and supporting visions of teaching and learning that focus on uses of technology which enhance the educational environment.” In 1988 MassCUE became a 501 (c)3 and has not stopped growing.

We celebrated our growth and founding members at our fall conference at Gillette Stadium on October 25, 2017 in several ways. We funded and awarded nine anniversary scholarships to teachers who have never attended our conference. Read about all nine winners! [23]We also recognized some of our MassCUE founding members as well as former board members before our keynote. This group was honored during a reception hosted by Discovery Education after the conference that evening.

Social Media Ambassadors

MassCUE would like to thank the following Social Media Ambassadors for assisting at the MassCUE 2017 Fall Conference at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, MA, October 25th and 26th, 2017. Click on each image to follow on Twitter for the latest updates during the Conference!

Wednesday, October 25, 2017

[25]

Anthony DiFonso @HAYSchoolNorton

Hola! My name is Anthony P. DiFonso, and I am the proud principal of the Henri A. Yelle Elementary School in the great district of Norton, MA. I am the proud dad of two incredible boys, Ben and Jack, as well as being the husband of my much better half, BethAnne, a fellow educator. Being selected as a Social Media Ambassador for MassCUE is a tremendous honor, as I wholeheartedly believe in the enormous positive impact social media has within schools and communities.

[26]

Christopher Dodge @PrincipalDodge1

Christopher Dodge is currently the Principal of The Dexter Park Innovation School in Orange, MA, serving 350 students in grades 3-6. He began his career as a grade 5 and 6 educator in Petersham, MA. Christopher’s passion as an educator included differentiating mathematics instruction for all students. As a Responsive Classroom® Morning Meeting staff trainer, Christopher is an advocate for students’ social-emotional learning and the impact is has on student achievement. Under his leadership, The Dexter Park Innovation School has moved to an all-inclusion school, servicing students through a co-teaching model of instruction and most recently presented his work at the National Association for Elementary School Principals (NAESP) summer conference in Philadelphia. Christopher serves on the Board of Directors as the Elementary Committee Chairman for the Massachusetts School Administrators Association (MSAA). He is a connected educator who utilizes social media to make family and community connections, and is passionate about educators using social media as a form of ongoing, personalized professional development. He moderates the monthly #MSAAChat and is the coordinator of EdcampNQ in Orange, MA. You can follow him on Twitter and Instagram @PrincipalDodge1, on Voxer @cdodge33, and read his blog: http://dexterparkprincipal.blogspot.com/.

[27]

Kathleen Reardon @MagistraReardon

Kathleen Reardon is the Director of Academic Technology at Dedham Country Day School and owner of doctiloqua.com[28], celebrating teaching & parenting in the digital world. She loves exploring new edtech tools, promoting positive digital citizenship skills, and encouraging children to dream full STEAM ahead!

[29]

Melissa Wallace @wallacecmij

Hello my name is Melissa Wallace and I am the assistant principal at the Florence Roche elementary school in Groton, Massachusetts. I have my Masters degree in special education, instructional technology, and school administration. I am currently working with a group of teachers to develop Google classroom lesson plans. I look forward to being a social media ambassador for MassCUE 2017!

[30]

Jessica Walls @Mswallsphs

Jessica Walls currently teaches Journalism, College Prep American Literature and AP Literature at Pembroke High School, and this is her first MassCUE Conference. Her interest in educational technology began when she attended the Building Learning Communities Conference in 2014 as part of a district – wide implementation plan to increase the use of technology in all of the Pembroke Public Schools. Jessica is currently finishing the “Navigating Our Digital World” graduate certificate program at Lesley University, as well as training for the NYC Marathon, and she is hoping to rest at some point in the future.

Thursday, October 26, 2017

[31]

Sarah Hines @Sarhines

SarahHines is a Library Media Specialist for Lawrence School in Falmouth, MA. She lives on Martha’s Vineyard and loves to read, travel, and spend time at the beach.

[32]

Lytania Mackey Knowles @mackeylytania

LytaniaMackeyKnowles is energized by her work with students, teachers, and administration K-12 in a field that she is passionate about- technology & education. She enjoys supporting educators by planning and delivering meaningful and relevant professional development and training. In her spare time, she can be found in a sunny spot reading her Kindle, cooking, traveling, and golfing with her husband (a golf coach and elementary teacher).

[33]

Megan Haddadi @meganhaddadi

Megan Haddadi currently serves as the Head of Academic Technology at The Park School in Brookline, MA.Before joining Park she worked at the Buckingham Browne & Nichols School in Cambridge, MA and the King & Low-Heywood Thomas School in Stamford, CT. Megan received her Bachelors in Computer Science from Bryn Mawr College and her Masters in Technology in Education from Lesley University. She is currently pursuing a Certificate in Advanced Education Leadership from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. Megan is also a former member of the Scratch Team in the Lifelong Kindergarten Group at the MIT Media Lab. In addition to working at The Park School, Megan was chosen by Global Online Academy to be a member of their 2017-2018 inaugural Learning Design Coaches Cohort and is a Community Teaching Assistant for the MIT EdX course “Launching Innovation in Schools: XQ Edition.”

[34]

Mary Taylor @mrsmarytaylor

Mary Taylor is the academic coordinator for math grades 6-12 in Norton. This is her 32nd year as a math teacher. Besides teaching in Norton she loves going to all the Norton High sporting events and tweeting from them on her second twitter account.

Live At MassCUE

This year, we added a Live Broadcast Booth with a studio flair to our conference. This space was full of energy and was a big hit with passers-by, as well as those who took advantage of viewing attendee interviews live-streamed to other conference locations, as well as online. Various attendees from award recipients and presenters, teachers and administrators, and even some of our very own MassCUE Board members helped to make this a special addition to this year’s Conference.

Play all of the interviews or use the playlist menu to select specific ones.

Graduate Credit

Did you know you can receive 1 Framingham State University credit for attending both days of the fall conference and writing a reflection paper that includes an action plan? See requirements and register[35]